working together

interior design

Let’s get started….

Connect

You have a story to tell

and you’ve also got a business to run.

You have amazing ideas, but the reality isn’t quite there. Something isn’t working:

Your restaurant space doesn’t align with the image in your head, on your plate, or in your dreams
Business has grown and you’re looking at new spaces…more offices, more conference rooms, better function
Your cafe is beautiful, but it doesn’t work
Business is dropping off as your customers head to newer, hipper places
You don’t know how to get the ideas onto paper, through permitting and constructed
You’re having trouble defining your vision

You know where you’re going but aren’t sure how to get there.

I have skills

to make your story a reality.

I’ve got a designer’s discerning eye, an empathic mind and a determination to figure you out. I’ve been designing commercial interiors for over twenty years, with foodservice projects a specialty. When we work together, your project is my focus. From siting your space through seating your first guest (or employee!), I will design a space that functions well, looks great and tells your story. To get to your reality, I will create:

programming that helps me to understand who you are and where you’re going
documentation for permitting and construction
help you navigate the myriad permitting agencies that must be satisfied
connect you with fabricators and contractors to build your space
even help you pick out the furniture

Along the way I will keep an eye on the details so that nothing falls through a crack….and if it does, we will find it.

COLLABORATION

A great project is the result of a great team. Every project requires not only a talented designer and a visionary client, but may also require a group of professionals working together to create a product that is not only beautiful but operates successfully. Over twenty years of designing have given me opportunity to work with many wonderful architects, graphic designers, artists and contractors who bring their talent and knowledge to every project they participate in. I bring these relationships with me to serve your project.

CREATIVE PROCESS

My creative process begins with research. What I don’t already know about your business, your project site, your product, your style I will research. In order to give you the best of myself, I need to understand who you are as a businessperson and the business that you are trying to create or grow. So I’ll ask you questions and listen carefully to your answers. Then I will expand my search to include other team members to understand how their input might influence design direction. The final decisions, though, will always be yours.

PROBLEM SOLVING

No project comes without problems. Or, as the optimists among us like to say, opportunities. Every problem that arises will be dealt with head-on and resolved without drama or ego. Whether it is a timing issue, style issue, budget issue or field discovery, I will lead the charge to collaboratively determine the best way to resolve the issue and move forward. All information exchanged will be documented so that miscommunication is minimized and the budget is met.

MY CREDENTIALS

I am an NCIDQ certified Interior Designer, a CID in the state of California and LEED AP ID+C accredited. That just means that I have the education and skills needed to do my job. And I focus on doing it sustainably.

sample projects

The Clancy

Bauccio Commons

Montage Healdsburg

Pelo SF

PGA West

Japanese Restaurant

Chaminade Resort

Onigilly

I had the pleasure to work with Leslie at a high intensity, detail oriented, internationally renowned design firm. Leslie’s role was one with many hats:

designer & project leader
running design and production quality and staff
client and owner point of contact (often they were not the same)
consultant coordinator (from lighting and kitchen design to all engineering)

Leslie provided a unique perspective to her design approach with a keen sensibility to the client’s expectations. She balanced this with an eye to project budgets and schedule limitations. She is a compassionate listener and is always generous with her time and willing to help. She is a hard worker and a confident self-starter, always researching new ideas and figuring out new ways of doing things that will make a project or process flourish.

Nancy Kalter-Dillsarchitect

…she brought a considerable amount of professionalism to the project table. Leslie very easily grasped what our design challenges were and helped coordinate the Interior Design in such a way that we came up with seamless solutions for the client. Working with Leslie was wonderful; she is very creative and has a very positive and grounded view of what it takes to complete a project.

Leanne Eberhartarchitect

Leslie did a great job handling the PGA Stadium Clubhouse project. Her management style brought creative solutions to construction implementation issues, while keeping the budget in view. Interfacing with the general contractor and other consultants was always handled efficiently, with warmth and a team attitude. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Leslie again in the near future!

Andrea Pelletierclient, Pyramid Project Management

I worked with Leslie on a small project with a very tight schedule as the sale of my house depended on it. She was able to quickly understand what was required and quickly turned around the required documents for permitting. Her familiarity with the local building codes and what the city was looking for were critical in helping get the required building permits.

Leslie was a pleasure to work with at a time when everyone around her was under a lot of pressure. She was friendly, efficient and very knowledgeable. I would not think twice about having her help me next time.

Emile Kfouriclient

We hired Leslie to draft exhibit floorplans of our museum. She quickly grasped what our needs were and executed the project efficiently and professionally. Her positive attitude was refreshing and I hope we have an opportunity to work with her again in the future.

Amy Heidenclient, Exploratorium

Leslie worked with me on two complex designs for restaurant proposals in the Presidio. She did an incredible job of weaving the aesthetic, functional and cost considerations into the designs and working to present these through the complex review process and to the varied decision makers at the Presidio. Leslie was able to always adeptly address the multiple levels of needs and considerations and quickly revise and rework the designs to fit changing needs and cost considerations. It was great fun to work with Leslie on these projects and I can’t imagine anyone better suited to successfully meet the challenges she faced!

Marc Handclient, restaurant owner

where are the ev hospitality stations?

communication is a design skill, and vice versa

interior design is not about flowers

opening a restaurant….the reality of budgets

after the election: design

About me

At the core I am a story teller. I’ve been designing commercial interiors for over twenty-five years and writing for much longer than that.

When I’m not working on a project I’m creating note cards, jewelry, a better way to get through daily chores, my own stories both true and not so much, a new garden, furniture, recipes. And most importantly relationships….with family, friends and clients. I live in San Francisco with hubby, one small dog, three chickens and a son and daughter who come and go, and spend a great deal of time texting my children.

~Leslie